regulate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
regulates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
regulated,
past participle, past
-
regulating
present participle
-
to control or direct by a rule, principle, method, etc..
The statute is intended to regulate the business practices of architects by establishing a code of professional conduct.
-
to adjust to some standard or requirement, as amount, degree, etc..
A film was applied to the windows to help regulate the temperature and reduce glare.
- Synonyms:
- set
-
to adjust so as to ensure accuracy of operation.
If the watch is consistently off, it can be fixed relatively simply by regulating the beat rate.
-
to put or keep something in good order or within reasonable limits.
Playful interactions with adult caregivers help children develop the ability to regulate their emotions and behavior.
- Synonyms:
- balance
-
Biology. to adjust or adapt (a bodily process or function) in response to external stimuli.
-
Genetics. to control the expression of (a gene or genes).
verb
-
to adjust (the amount of heat, sound, etc, of something) as required; control
-
to adjust (an instrument or appliance) so that it operates correctly
-
to bring into conformity with a rule, principle, or usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
overregulateverb
-
misregulateverb (used with object)
-
preregulateverb (used with object)
-
reregulateverb (used with object)
-
nonregulatedadjective
-
nonregulativeadjective
-
quasi-regulatedadjective
-
regulativeadjective
-
regulatoryadjective
-
unregulatedadjective
-
unregulativeadjective
-
well-regulatedadjective
-
regulativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
regulatesimple
-
regulatessimple
-
have regulatedperfect
-
has regulatedperfect
-
am regulatingprogressive
-
are regulatingprogressive
-
is regulatingprogressive
-
have been regulatingperfect progressive
-
has been regulatingperfect progressive
Past
-
regulatedsimple
-
had regulatedperfect
-
was regulatingprogressive
-
were regulatingprogressive
-
had been regulatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of regulate
First recorded in 1620–30, from Late Latin rēgulātus (past participle of rēgulāre “to direct”); see regula, -ate 1
Explanation
The on-off spigot regulates the flow of water into your bathtub. When a government regulates an industry, they set standards the industry must follow. To regulate means to impose control. Regulate shares a root with the word, regular. When the transit authority regulates a train schedule, it makes sure trains arrive on a more regular schedule. The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated –– before a drug can be marketed, it must be tested. On a more personal level, if you want to regulate your digestive system, try eating more fiber... or prunes!
Vocabulary lists containing regulate
Florida EOC Civics
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Articles of Confederation (1777)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week In Words: September 5–11, 2020
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The governor, who has close relationships in the technology industry from his time in San Francisco, said only a couple other states have attempted to regulate artificial intelligence like California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
The levy, which came into force on Tuesday, follows a new law passed in June to regulate so-called "ultra-fast fashion" companies such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
Other related lawsuits are pending across the U.S., so some legal experts predict that the Supreme Court will make the ultimate call on how to regulate or at least categorize these platforms.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
I didn’t set out to leverage AI, beavering away in the background while I sleep, to set my priorities every morning, and even help me regulate my physical and mental health.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
“That’s where they put a donor heart next to his, to regulate the beat. The donor was—the heart was—too small to do the job by itself.”
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
Brighthouse’s insurance business is based in Delaware, the state that also regulates the two Walter insurance companies under investigation, Delaware Life and Clear Spring Life and Annuity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Department of Transportation attaching itself to a series paid for by companies it regulates, including United Airlines, Chase Travel, Toyota, Boeing and Royal Caribbean.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
"The important thing is we've got a system which regulates universities on outcomes," she said.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
“It’s an unusual benefit,” said Marc Owens, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer who spent a decade overseeing the division at the IRS that regulates nonprofits.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
“Why, the law of supply and demand regulates the price of houses.”
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
They are products from life-insurance companies, backed by bond portfolios and strictly regulated by state governments, which convert a pile of money into a guaranteed lifetime income.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
Tiffany now wants the state's tax incentives scrapped and the industry more tightly regulated, though he stops short of a ban.
From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026
In the U.S., over-the-counter supplements are not regulated, so each brand of supplement can vary in strength, purity, etc.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
The review, external of the most recent and best quality evidence to date applies to regulated vapes that are checked for quality and compliant with strict safety laws.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
While under formal control, virtually every aspect of one’s life is regulated and monitored by the system, and any form of resistance or disobedience is subject to swift sanction.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
It plays an important role in regulating wakefulness, attention, and sleep.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
Americans are repeatedly encouraged to scrutinize what is in their food, who made it and whether the institutions responsible for regulating it can be trusted.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
The gland secretes vital hormones that help with processes like growth, metabolism and regulating blood pressure and temperature.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Duffy is in charge of regulating safe travel for the public.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Recognizing the public's disdain for the spoils system, he called for a law regulating civil service jobs within the government.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
